The Power Of Love ... :) Shangy!
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Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an
adult club in the love and romance directory so
you will have to confirm that you are an adult
when you go here. I still have no idea how to change
this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try!
or Web Site:
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Group email address:
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or email me here:
bcrsystems@earthlink.net
================
*~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny,
inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here...
bcrsystems@earthlink.net
I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!!
================
"We are each of us angels with but one wing,
and can only fly by embracing each other"
-Luciano Decrescenzo
~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~
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*~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~*
>Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel?
If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011
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*~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY!
================
*~* HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND! HUGGUMS! *~*
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>-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :)
This amazing one comes from our friend PatDeE. It has
some really great photos! Check it out here...
Microscopic!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/micro.html
---
...This does have it's gross side as well as awesome! Thanks PatDeE!
=================================================================
>-->From Heartwarmers:
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`-' oTHE POWER OF LOVE by Joseph Walker
By any standard of measurement, David was a powerful man.
Tall, handsome and dignified, he cut an imposing figure, even in
his declining years. He was widely known and greatly respected by his
peers and others in the community. As the head of a large
organization, he was surrounded by people who were prepared to respond
to his every whim. Because of the prominence of his position and the
value of his time, he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to do,
or that wasn't a high priority to him.
Which is why it seemed a little unusual to those who worked in the
small downtown market to see this great man, slowed and bent by the
years, shuffling in to shop.
"Doesn't he have people to do this sort of thing for him?" a clerk
asked the store manager.
"Of course he does," the manager whispered. "He has people who
have people who have people to do this sort of thing for him."
They watched as David moved slowly, deliberately, toward the
produce section.
"Then what's he doing here?" the clerk asked.
"I don't know," the manager said, a little nervously. "But
whatever it is, it must be VERY important."
David paused at the produce section, looking at the surprisingly
expansive display of fresh fruits and vegetables. At last his eyes
settled on a big bin of large, shiny red apples. He picked up the
apples one by one, examining each closely, twisting and turning it in
the sunlight to expose any defect or flaw.
Over the course of several minutes he must have inspected two
dozen apples or so until at last he settle on one that looked
absolutely perfect -- perfectly sized, perfectly shaped, perfectly
colored, perfectly ripe.
"Perfect!" he said to himself, smiling broadly.
He tucked the apple securely in his hand and made his way back up
the aisle to the cash register, where the manager stepped in front of
the clerk.
"There will be no charge for that, sir," the manager said when
David presented the apple for purchase. "You may have it, with our
compliments."
David shook his head.
"Thank you, sir," he said kindly. "But I insist. Please allow me
to pay for this beautiful apple."
Hesitantly, the manager rang up the charge for the apple, and
placed it carefully in a brown paper bag. He took David's money, and
handed the bag to him.
"Thank you," David said, holding the bag as one might hold a
package of diamonds. "Emma will love this!"
Emma?
Of course -- Emma. The love of David's life. His sweetheart of
more than 50 years. It was said that in all their time together, they
had never once had an argument.
And now, a clerk and a manager at a small downtown market
understood why. It was a matter of priority. It was a matter of
sensitivity. It was a matter of purpose.
And clearly, it was a matter of power. The power of love.
-- Joseph Walker
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Y
>VALENTINE BIRTHDAY
Why is Valentine's Day special to me? It's very simple. God gave
me a miracle on February 14, 1996.
Since I was a little girl, I always thought I would get married
young and have a large family. Instead, I was almost 28 and it seemed
a child was not to be. Fertility treatments didn't work and I gave up
after 5 years. However, God hadn't. Much to my surprise, and my
doctor's, I became pregnant.
My due date was the end of February, but at Christmas time, I
started to have some issues. By February 13, I had pre-eclympsia and
the doctor said we couldn't wait any long for the baby. Labor was
induced, but it took hours before I was put into a hard labor and then
things progressed so rapidly I didn't have time to get any pain
medication and my son was born at 2:50 in the afternoon.
Over the years, he has had some health issues, usually dealing
with lung related issues. He is the love and joy of my life. Bright,
sweet and talented. He will be 15. He is my friend. He is the best
thing I have ever done or will ever do. He is my Funny Valentine.
-- Amy Taylor Parker
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>-->From Our Friend Gwen :)
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>93 and Getting Married!
I have to tell you that I am 73 and on February 19 my mom's birthday
she will be getting married in San Antonio, Texas. She met Holman in
Assistant living where lived across the hall from her. They both lost
their spouces and found eachother to be attractive.
The KENS radio station in San Antonio ie CBS will be interviewing them
Monday the 14 for Valentines Day.
The Express News followed them in their wheel chairs to the Court House
to get their marriage certificates.
For those interested can send cards to
Mr and Mrs Holman Massey
Chandler Assistant Living
5100 Howard Street
San Antonio, Texas 78212
It's not everyday that one gets to start over in life
Thank you
Gwencopeland56
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...Awww, so sweet! Thank You Gwen!
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'8:::::::::::::::::8' two hearts
'8:::::::::::8' beat as one...
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May God Bless Their UNION!
Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.
-- Robert Browning
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>Eleven Roses Story Editor:
by Katherine E. Lockwood Joyce Schowalter
New York, USA
My two-year-old daughter and I often get smiles from strangers as we
walk through town with Clara riding in her backpack, singing and
swinging her feet.
I felt extra grateful for my sunny little girl on one walk at the
end of April, 2006. Just three days before she woke up from her nap
with a fever of 106 degrees. We spent a traumatic evening in the
emergency room. Any parent or child is frightened by such an
experience. So it was a great feeling that Clara was so happy that
day.
We were heading home from a local grocery store, which wisely gives
out free balloons to children. Clara always looks forward to getting
a balloon there. She had done an especially nice job being patient
at the store, after waiting a long time for a prescription.
She was thrilled when the selection included pink balloons. Pink
looms large in her philosophy, especially these days, since the
antibiotic she is taking for the infection that caused the high
fever is bubble-gum pink.
Clara was singing "Mister Golden Sun" to her balloon, as we walked
under a tree, when POP! There went the balloon.
Clara immediately burst into tears. "My pink balloon popped!" She
has had many balloons before, but is always very careful with them.
This was the first time she experienced this minor trauma of
childhood, and she was inconsolable.
A college-aged young man, about 21, with light brown hair, who was
walking behind us noticed Clara's tears. He was clearly preparing
for an important date, as he was carrying a bouquet of a dozen
long-stemmed roses. He stopped and talked to Clara. "Your balloon
popped, that's very sad."
"What's your name?" Unfortunately, Clara was too shy and upset to
answer, but I filled in for her, touched that a young guy, probably
hurrying home to get ready for a date, would stop to comfort a
little child.
"Clara is a pretty name," said the young man. "Would you like a
flower? It's pink, just like your balloon."
Clara was still crying inconsolably, unable to say that she would
really like the rose. The young man said jokingly, "Uh-oh, I'm in
trouble if girls don't like these!" He tucked a pink rose into
Clara's backpack, and went on his way.
Shortly after the young man was too far away to hear, Clara said
"Thank you for my rose," in a quiet voice. She carried the rose in
her hand the rest of the way home, finally waving at the young man,
who was much too far away to see. A block later, Clara was singing
to her flower.
Somewhere in Ithaca, a lucky young lady is receiving a bouquet of
eleven roses. I hope she asks why one is missing!
=======HeroicStories=======
>-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo:
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>NAMASTE
Has this ever happened to you?
The day after we moved to a small town in Colorado my wife Bev did
grocery shopping. We moved few food items with us so she filled four
grocery carts full. She asked if she could pay with an out of state
check. "We just moved here," she explained, "and don't have local
checks yet."
They said, "Yes, no problem." But when she began looking for her
checkbook, she discovered that she had left it at home.
All of the groceries had been checked and sacked. "I'm so sorry," she
said, "I thought I had it with me. If I could just leave the groceries
here for a few minutes, I'll run home and get the checkbook."
"Don't worry about it," the cashier told her. "Take the groceries
home. The next time you're in the store you can pay for them."
We had just moved from a large city and she couldn't believe what she
was hearing! This clerk had never seen her before. But she treated her
as if she were a VIP. She was somebody!
Don't you love it when you are treated like you are somebody? Because
the truth is, we are all somebody. We are all important. And maybe
most businesses cannot (and should not) let everybody pay with credit,
but even strangers can be treated with honor and respect.
"Namaste" is a polite Indian gesture of greeting or farewell. From
Hindi, the word literally means "bowing to you." Namaste has also
been used to mean "I honor the sacred that is within you." What a
remarkable thing it would be to actually honor the sacred that is
within each person we meet! Even strangers. Nobody would go unnoticed
and everybody would count.
Here is an exercise that may dramatically change your life: for one
month treat everybody you meet as if she or he is the most important
person in the world. The man sweeping the sidewalk, your spouse and
children, a teenager in the neighborhood, the elderly woman seated
across the aisle from you -- honor that which is sacred in all of
them.
Give your undivided attention. By your words and actions, communicate
to them all how important they are to you. Show them great respect and
kindness. You may be amazed at what happens to your relationships!
You may not single-handedly solve the problem of world peace -- but in
one small way at least, you will make a great difference.
Namaste.
-- Steve Goodier
-<>-
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Normand Veilleux
based on work by
Tua Xiong
>GENTLENESS AND HUGS By: Joseph J. Mazzella
In my life I have experienced a lot of different types of hugs. I
have gotten the warm hug that goes on forever. I have gotten the bear
hug that squeezes the air right out of your lungs. I have gotten the
neck hug where the little child jumps in your arms and wraps lovingly
around your neck. I have gotten the back slapper hug where the hugger
gives you the bam, bam on the back. I have even gotten the leg hug
which toddlers all over the world use to melt your heart. The most
memorable hug I ever got, however, came when I was a teenager.
I was visiting a monastery in the Midwest with several other boys.
Our guide took us through the simple rooms where the Priests and Monks
lived, worked, and prayed. As we entered a small kitchen one of the
Brothers walked in. To say he was intimidating would have been an
understatement. He was a giant of a man. He stood well over six and a
half feet tall. He must have weighed over three hundred pounds as well.
He looked like a lineman for a professional football team dressed in a
brown, wool robe. As we talked, though, his kind spirit and delightful
sense of humor put us all at ease. That is until he rose to leave. Then
he walked right at me to give me a hug. At first I feared he might
crack a rib, but when he took me in his huge arms all I felt was the
love from his soul. It was the gentlest hug I ever got.
Leo Rosten said: "It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can
only be expected from the strong." I learned that lesson first hand in
the arms of one of the strongest but gentlest spirits I have ever met
in this world. He showed me with one hug that God is love and that our
real strength comes from loving each other as He loves us. He showed me
that our true power comes when we aren't afraid to embrace our goodness
or express our joy. He showed me too that gentleness and hugs will
forever go together. May your life always be full of both.(
-<>-
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>LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD
by Lydia E. Harris
As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice
over you. Isaiah 62:5
Read: Isaiah 62:1-5
On Valentine's Day I like to send and receive love notes with the
special people in my life. I'm always eager to tear open the envelopes
from family and friends and read the special sentiments. The cards may
be humorous, sweet, or even romantic if they are from my bridegroom of
40 years. Often I save messages in my "special cards" file to reread
later.
I treasure another volume of love letters written to me--the Bible.
God's Word overflows with messages to encourage, affirm, and guide me.
But I'm ashamed to admit, I don't always read it as eagerly as my
valentines. Although God's Word is penned with sacrificial love, at
times it remains unopened. Busyness, interruptions, and life's cares
may cause my disinterest and neglect. Just as love between a husband
and wife wanes if it isn't nurtured, love for my heavenly Bridegroom
grows cold if I don't cherish my time with Him.
Yet God's love for me never changes. In Isaiah 62, I learn He sees me
as a crown of beauty and a royal diadem in His hand (v. 3). And He
delights in me (v. 4). Not only that, He rejoices over me as a
bridegroom rejoices over his bride (v. 5). Ponder that thought: God
Almighty rejoices over you and me. Incredible! Author Joni Eareckson
Tada describes God's amazing love this way: "It's a jump- up-and-down,
throw-your-head-back, yell-out-loud Rejoice!' Jesus is brimming with
heartfelt love for you too."
Lord God, I'm thrilled by Your love. Give me a deep, consistent love
for You and Your Word. Day by day, may I fall more in love with You.
Questions: What causes you to neglect God's love letters to you? What
can you do to be consistent?
How has God shown His deep love for you? What can you do to fall more
in love with Him?
Perhaps one way is to reflect on the words of the hymn, "The Love of
God." by Frederick M. Lehman.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
-<>-
>Links For You
Need A Partner
http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041635.htm
Never Take A Mans Last Beer
http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041636.htm
New Mouse
http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42001.htm
Pepsi-Italian
http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42002.htm
Plane Crash
http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42003.htm
-<>-
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/` \/ `\ VALENTINE'S /` \/ `\
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>SPECIAL LINKS For Valentine's Day....
POEMS:
Friends Together
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/together.html
I Need A Hug!
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/hug.html
It Takes Two!
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/two.html
Love's Lust!
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/desire.html
Moody Is My Day
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/need.html
TEACHINGS:
Our Valuable Anchor
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html
Choose His Children?
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/choosehischildren.html
You Are The Only You God Has
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html
SPECIAL PAGES:
Best Friends!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/bestfriends.html
Friendship!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendship.html
God's Little Love Notes
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/notes.html
Love Thoughts
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html
Love Test
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovetest.html
What Is Love 1
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove1.html
What Is Love 2
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove2.html
What Is Love 3
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove3.html
Would You Care?
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/care.html
Jesus Laughing Art
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.htm
Akiane Child Prodigy
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html
Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com
If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit
www.buffalosjokes.com We look forward to seeing you there!
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>-->DevineHalowings:
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>Little Angel by Michelle Johnson
My true story happened last year. I am totally blind, and have been
since I was a tiny baby. Yet God is so awesome to be letting me see
angels!
I dreamed that I saw a little angel, kind of like a cherub. I had no
idea where I was, but there was this group of people around me. Out of
nowhere I was suddenly looking at this angelic figure. I think someone
was holding it. At first I thought it was a toy or a porcelain doll, but
every time I saw it's face, I would see a faint starlight glow,
different to that of any glow seen on earth.
That was so frightening! What I found peculiar was that the angel was so
small, smaller than the palm of my hand, yet could still have such a
countenance about him. The glow was like that of an angel in a dream I
had last year, who kept pointing me away from certain fields which were
dangerous. The glow was also like that of another angel I saw while I
was still awake who told me not to go near the jug to boil water for
coffee. That jug actually exploded only a short time afterwards while my
mother was boiling water! This took place last year too.
Back to my dream: This little cherub was being passed around and the
other people, mostly boys - I think teenagers, didn't seem so scared
which seemed strange to me. It seemed that I was the only one scared of
it. The face, every time it was passed to me reminded me of Ezekiel's
vision of the four living creatures, cherubim, and one of them had a
cherub's face. This angel's face looked to me like that cherub's face
miniature sized! The cheeks were chubby and puffed out, the little mouth
reminded me of a doll but more perfected somehow and the rest of the
body looked like a doll's body but more the shape of an angel.
When it was passed around to me once again I decided that my fear might
be my imagination or something of sorts putting me off, so I took more
time to study him. Sure enough it looked like it could be a doll, but it
was warm; maybe our hands made it warm, but after a few seconds of
touching the angel, I found that it animated it's own heat. I knew it
was living then. That scared me a bit. Then the face - it continued to
fascinate me. I started to wonder, was it really glowing or was it just
my imagination?
I stared at it, then after a few seconds I saw that same starlight glow,
the one I saw in the face of the angel in the dream about the fields and
the other one in my vision of the dangers of going near the jug that
exploded. What startled me apart from realising that indeed it was
glowing and was not my imagination was that the little angel had it's
own presence, the same presence as a normal-sized angel! I realised I
was holding a miniature angel! I quickly lifted it away from my eye
level - I was half bowed with fear by that time, so I lifted it to my
right shoulder. Then it stretched it's tiny arms across my shoulder as
if to comfort me and show me that he was not dangerous, but every time I
looked at his face, I saw the angel's starlight glow, the same as
the angels as described above. Knowing that it really was a
miniature-sized angel scared me so much that I woke up.
Lately I have been asking God to guard me with his "little" angels,
which I know are gigantic, but compared with the omnipotent God
Almighty, little.
-<>-
\ | /
-- * --
/ | \
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/' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\
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dp
>Saving Hands
The rain has barely let up in the City of Makati (here in the
Philippines). Hundreds of commuters were stranded and literally swarming
along the highway. I felt as helpless as the person next to me. Buses
were nowhere in sight and the head count was increasing by the second.
Thirty minutes and counting... an hour and still nothing. My feet hurt
and I was getting restless, so I whispered a silent prayer that my
guardian angel and St. Michael, the Archangel, woul d protect and help
me get a ride home.
A few more minutes passed, my bus arrived. Finally! Unmindful of my
actions, I began to run towards its side (like so many others have),
each of us trying to be first to be assured a seat. I was pretty sure no
one would have liked the idea of standing for 2hours more in that
traffic...But I stepped inside too soon you see...the bus was still
gliding to its proper stop and I couldn't wait...My mind was quick to
think during that critical moment. Critical because I was not able to
hold on to the door railing for balance and I have to make two quick
decisions before the fall: 1) force myself to get inside the bus and
risk a twisted knee or foot but eventually get crushed by the moving
wheel or 2) diffuse my weight to send myself flying backwards away from
the bus but still get crushed minus the wheel...I chose the latter, and
a miracle happened! A lot of hands were suddenly beneath me, from my
head down to my legs. THEY BROKE MY FALL! They carried me...everyone
went still for a few seconds and they just let me get on quietly. Right
then and there, I knew they were my angels!!! My angels saved me. Still
shaken but otherwise unharmed, I looked back among the crowd and said
out loud "THANK YOU. Thank you for saving me!"
When I arrived home that night, I recalled the experience with my
husband, every detail. He was scowling at first but as I got to the part
where my angels saved me, he ended up smiling and acknowledging the
powerful protection and intervention of angels. We both can't thank you
enough.
I shared my experience likewise to close friends. Hopefully, they too
may experience the love, care and protection angels unconditionally
give!!!
-<>-
. ,
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/_`/._/._`_./` __.`.-\_.-`'-._/-,',__ '\,_'_,\_,\'_\
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>Angelic Interventions
Vicki was awake in bed at 02:00AM, suffering from an asthma attack, and
had got out of bed to open the window to try a change of air.
Her ground-floor bedroom looks out onto the back garden, and she
immediately noticed a young man on the lawn. At first she thought he was
an intruder who had been attacking women in the area and, not being a
nervous sort, she decided to confront him to frighten him off.
As she opened the window to call to him, she saw that what she had
thought was a short fair youth was actually a tall angel, kneeling as if
in prayer. Vicki says, "He was half turned away from me, with wings,
looking as if he had stepped off an ornate tomb ! My first reaction was
utter amazement; my second was feeling like an intruder myself, seeing
something totally private. I watched him silently for a while, then
closed the window as quietly as I could and got back into bed."
Vicki relates the surprising sequel: "I lay there thinking, Some people
have gnomes in their gardens, I've got an angel in mine! I felt a weird
mixture of pleasure and This is ridiculous. Have I lost my marbles? Then
the angel spoke to me. I was aware of his message as an emerging
conciousness. He told me not to be jugmental of people, even when I was
sure they were wrong, that only God may judge. Not to hate people for
what they do, but to understand. That life on Earth is only a tiny
droplet in the ocean of eternity and my concern should be to try to
become as close to God as I could, since God is composed of love and
light.
"Really, I don't have words to describe his message. I can only say I
was filled with an incredible sense of love and knew I was feeling
Heaven. Written down, the message sounded simplistic, yet it was full of
subtlety; he spoke to my understanding. I fell asleep filled with
enlightenment.
"It took several weeks to realize the full effect. The angel had taken
my anger and left me with self-knowledge and illumination. Those who
know me well comment on a change; I am a richer, more committed and
gentler person as a result."
===================================================================
>-->From Heartwarmers:
.---. .---.
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>AN OLD LADY WITH A GOLDEN HEART by Roger Kiser
I guess it takes years for us to grow up, but more importantly, it
takes many years for us to wise up.
As a young man, I saw an ad in my local newspaper one morning that
advertised a boat, motor and trailer in "almost perfect, like new"
condition. I called and talked with an elderly man and was assured
that it was showroom new and that I would find nothing better for that
price. I immediately jumped in my station wagon and went to look at a
boat.
When I arrived, I learned the old gentleman had been my son's
former grade school principal. The boat sat on the side of the
driveway and was uncovered by a faded somewhat torn and shredded green
tarp. I stepped back as the old man unstrapped and peeled back the
covering.
My eyes opened wide as I secretly told myself "that damn thing is
nothing but a piece of junk."
There was no way I was going to buy that piece of junk, at any
cost. Politely, I explained the boat was too small in length for delta
fishing and I returned home.
All day long I walked around wondering how anyone could see beauty
in something that was old and falling apart.
Because of hard times, several weeks ago, I considered selling my
1996 Chevy truck. Though it is fourteen years old, it is in perfect
condition. Of course, there is the normal wear and tear but I have
taken very good care of the truck and it has taken very good care of me.
A new truck with the same features costs about $42,000 and I was
surprised to learn that the Kelly Blue Book listed my vehicle at only
$3,500. Does this Kelly guy not realize that this old truck has a
heart of gold -- that it can stand tall and work just as hard as the
rest of those new shinny looking fellows sitting dormant on the
showroom floor?
It was this just morning, some 50 years later, that I realized
what that elderly school principal was seeing when he showed me his
beautiful boat. He, as I now see, was looking at the inner beauty of
an elderly, wrinkled old lady who had brought much joy, happiness and
many pleasant memories into his life. I guess the true value of
anything is in the heart, and in what it has accomplished during its
lifetime.
I suppose, with much sadness, that those traits cannot be
purchased or sold at any cost.
-- Roger Dean Kiser
__________________________________________________
Roger is an author from Brunswick, Georgia, and is one of the nation's
leading advocates for orphans. You can visit his website here:
http://www.americanorpahn.com
====================================================================
>-->From CupO'Cheer:
____ ____
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(
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(( )
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\
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`-'"`-----'
>THE TOUGHEST THING GOD EVER TRIED TO DO
Al Lingren, a professor at Garrett Theological Seminary, told once
of taking his teenage son fishing years ago. As they were sitting in
the boat and talking, his son suddenly asked, “Dad, what is the
toughest thing God ever tried to do?”
The professor said the question caught him off guard. He didn’t
know what to say, so he did what a lot of dads do when they are
asked a difficult question: he answered with a question, “What do
you think it was, son?” he asked.
The boy proceeded to answer his own question. “Since taking
science in school, I thought the creation of the world might be the
hardest thing God ever tried to do, and in Sunday School we got to
talking about some of the miracles, and I thought the resurrection
might be the toughest thing God ever tried to do. But, after think-
ing about it some more, I decided that the toughest thing God ever
had to do is to get us to understand who he is and that he loves us.”
--From a sermon by Robert L. Allen
---
...My Two Cents...
It was to watch his only begotten Son be tortured and hung on a tree.
-<>-
|
-+- _
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/___\ /(")\ (")
.---'-'---. /((~))\/\ _ .-.
/___________\ ~~/@\~~\|_|/ ((_))
| A /^\ A | / \ ||| ((_)) '-'
| |"| | /~@~@~\ ||| '-'
ldb_|___|_|___|_____/_______\|||______
~THE ANNIVERSARY PRESENT~
Every year on our anniversary, Judy and I celebrate the special
occasion by having bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for
dinner -- a tradition we have held for fourteen years, mainly
because that is what we ate on the day we met.
About three o'clock we headed to Harvery's Grocery Store to
purchase the items necessary for our meal. When pulling
into the parking lot there were an elderly man and woman
in the car in front of us. I began to get a little agitated as
the man was driving about one mile per hour.
"If I ever get that slow I want you to shoot me," I told my
wife.
"You're already that slow," she replied.
"Then forget what I just said."
The gentleman pulled into a handicapped parking space and
the two of them slowly exited their automobile. By the time
we parked the two of them were heading into the store. The
woman was using a walker and the old man pulled himself
forward using a three legged walking cane.
After picking out a head of lettuce and several tomatoes, we
headed to the meat counter for a slab bacon. As we round
the corner, guess who ends up directly in front of us,
pushing a shopping cart at three feet per hour -- the elderly
couple from the parking lot.
Judy and I stood waiting for them to move on down the line
so we could reach the bacon. Very carefully, the old man
reached over and picked up a small package of pork chops.
Holding them out to his wife he replied, "This sure would
be good for our anniversary mother."
"You know we can't afford that dad," she replied.
Slowly, the man placed the package back on the meat
counter and the two of them continued down the aisle.
Judy picked out a large package of bacon and off to the
bread aisle we headed. As we passed the elderly couple,
the man was trying to pick up a large package of
hamburger.
"The small package dad. The small package," the woman
told him.
Judy and I stopped and looked at one another.
"James Ditty time?"
"I think so, mom," I said, as I smiled back at her.
Judy and I headed back to the meat counter and rang the
buzzer. Several seconds later our friend James Ditty came
out of the freezer.
"Hey guys," he replied as he shook my hand.
"James, how about four of your best center cut pork
chops, maybe one and a half inches thick," Judy told
him.
"You got it."
Judy and I waited for James to cut and wrap the meat.
When he returned I took the marking pen from his
pocket and wrote "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" on top of
the white package.
"How are we going to do this without embarrassing
them dad?" Judy asked.
"Don't worry, I got it covered."
Judy and I headed to the bread aisle, picked out a loaf
of bread and headed to the check out counter. After
paying for our groceries, I took the pork chops and
wrapped them in a plastic bag. I pointed out the
elderly couple to the cashier and told her to slip the
meat in their grocery bag when they checked out.
Judy and I stood up front waiting for the couple to
come through the register. As the woman was fumbling
through her purse, the cashier placed the pork chops in
the bottom of their grocery bag and sat the sack in the
cart.
As they headed toward the door the old man was trying
to push the shopping cart with one hand and hold his
cane with the other.
"Can I help you with that," I told him.
"Why thank you sonny."
As the hours passed, we finally made it the fifty feet to
their automobile.
"Did I hear you say it's your anniversary today?" I asked
the gentleman.
"Fifty three years today."
"Fourteen for us," I told him.
"Well, Happy Anniversary," he replied.
"And a Happy Anniversary to you guys too."
Judy and I stood watching as the two of them slowly
made their way out onto Perry Lane Road. As car after
car began to line up behind them, horns began to blow.
"Thank you for the anniversary present dad. It's the
best one you ever bought."
I just looked at my wife and smiled.
~Roger Dean Kiser~
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com)
-<>-
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gpyy
>A VERY HUMAN THING TO DO
Someone made the statement: "To err is dysfunctional, to forgive
co-dependent." Sometimes I think I operate that way - afraid to err
and slow to forgive.
Of course, we've all heard Alexander Pope's famous assertion that
to err is human, to forgive, divine. But I don't agree. I think that to
forgive is one of the most human things we can do.
A number of years ago, Hildegard Goss-Mayr of the "International
Fellowship of Reconciliation" told this true story. In the midst of
tragic fighting in Lebanon in the 1970s, a Christian seminary
student was walking from one village to the next when he was
ambushed by an armed Druze guerrilla fighter. The Druze ordered
his captive down a mountain trail where he was to be shot.
But an amazing thing happened. The seminarian, who had received
military training, was able to surprise his captor and disarm him.
Now, the table was turned, and it was the Druze who was ordered
down the trail.
As they walked, however, the student of theology began to reflect
on what was happening. Recalling the words of his scripture,
"Love your enemies," "do good to those who hate you," "turn the
other cheek," he found he could go no farther. He threw the gun
into the bushes, told the Druze he was free to go and turned back
up the hill.
Minutes later, he heard footsteps running behind him as he walked.
"Is this the end after all?" he wondered. Perhaps the young man
had retrieved his weapon and meant to finish him off. But he
continued on, never glancing back, until his enemy reached him,
only to grab him in an embrace and pour out thanks for sparing
his life.
That was a very human thing he did - foregoing the impulse to
strike back. It took a strong spirit. Yet every time we decide not to
get back at somebody who hurts us, we exercise one of our greatest
powers - the power to choose a better way.
Somebody else put it better than I can: "Life is too short for drama
and petty things, so, kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and
forgive quickly." It's one of the most powerful and human things to
do.
-- Steve Goodier
as seen in Life Support
-<>-
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>GOD'S LOVE
God sends us flowers every Spring;
Their fragrance fills the air.
He sends us breezes to refresh
Oh friend, how much He cares.
He sends the morning sunrise
With gold and orange hues.
At night, He sends us twinkling stars --
His wonders ever new.
He sends the warmth of sun each day,
The trees to offer shade,
And for my cascading waterfalls --
All this for us He made.
The majesty of mountains high
Outlined against the sky;
The rippling brooks, the rolling seas --
All made for you and I.
He sent evenings for resting
And each day to start anew.
With all these daily miracles
He's saying "I love you."
Helen Gleason
as seen in Inspiration Plus
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=============================================================
__ .---.
__ / ` .-.7,--.
/ `. .-''. -, , \
'--.- -; | ) /
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/_...=' ||
jgs || .==,=.
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||,
||
||
||
*~* HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND! HUGGUMS! *~*
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